Santa Barbara Mission Vandalized with Red Paint

Old Mission Santa Barbara was vandalized with red paint with the words rape and genocide written near the church doors early Wednesday morning.

Edhat readers reported seeing the vandalism around 6:00 a.m. Wednesday with spray-painted words "genecide," assuming to mean genocide. "Rape" and "Never forget the lives + stolen land" were also painted on the Mission.

A window was also broken and the Santa Barbara Police Department state the vandalism was reported as early as 4:30 a.m. Wednesday with the paint already dried, reports KEYT News. The crime is considered a felony with the estimated damage is over $30,000.

Another act of vandalism occurred at the Santa Barbara Mission when the Junipero Serra statue was beheaded in September of 2017.

All cultures were savages back then. Not just European’s/Spaniard’s. They just were the most successful in the worldly land grabs of that era. White people today have nothing today have nothing to do with what happened back then. Get over it. There’s no excuse for vandalism. The molestastion stuff is a whole different thing. If the guy who did this was a victim of molestation. I feel bad for him.

Sorry I missed it,. I am sorry that you were molested. I didn't say anything about protecting the priests. I actually believe they and those who looked the other way should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law...there is a special place in hell for all people that harm young children.
I also know catholic priests and catholic friends whose real purpose in life is reach out to those in need, provide comfort and support their community. We can't let the criminals in any profession over shadow those that are really trying to make a difference for those less fortunate. Contrary to popular rhetoric, the world would not be a better place with out the Catholic or any other Christian religion.

All land (property) is theft. This is what many seem to be saying here. There has been almost no unoccupied land for thousands of years (Antarctica excepted). Still the aboriginal peoples of this area were in possession of the area before the Europeans came in and took it over. And the Catholic Church was the instrumentality by which the Europeans imposed their ways on the these people. God told them to do it, the king and queens told them they would be allowed to do it with the might of armies behind them. No one should pretend that the occupation of these lands by the Spanish was even negotiated (like the alleged deal between the Dutch and east coast native people). While it is also true that mere being here first is not really a better claim to the land it is at least enough to claim a place on that land that is not dependent on the malicious religious demands of the Spanish army. Moving on to the temporary control by Mexico is not much of an issue. Mexico did try and tamper down the religious abuses but could not really reach out to California from so far away as Mexico City and so Mexico was taken by other Europeans for their exploitations. No one really thought twice about the first peoples here. And this is pretty much where we are today. So yeah, exalting the missions is like exalting something pretty evil from the perspective of those subjected to the demands made on them by the occupants of these missions.

“BTW the Catholics did not steal California from the Chumash. Spain claimed it from the Chumash (1542) and then Mexico took it from Spain (1821) and then the US took it from Mexico (1848).”
The Catholic church cannot be so easily extricated from history by pointing to political authorities.
The Spanish Franciscans, Catholics, raised the cross in 1782 and founded the mission in 1786. Mexico took California from Spain, but the Franciscan in 1822, and in Franciscans, Catholics, continued to operate the mission for another dozen years before it was secularized. Because secularized resulting in general deterioration of the SB mission and others, the Mission was returned to the Franciscans, Catholics.
Shortly thereafter, the Mexican Governor confiscated the lands and sold the mission. The Franciscans, Catholics, at Santa Barbara continued to conduct services in the church for twenty years, when it was then returned to the Catholic church once again.
The Franciscans and Catholic church are the only common thread from 1782 to present.

the Church didn't steal the lands, supposedly they planned to keep the land for the Chumash when they learned to farm or whatever. The point is, the Mexican government not only took the Missions from the priests but gave land grants to friends, that's where ownership of the property went.

If you sit around and justify vandalism with some rationale of street justice or vigilantism then you can justify any crime. All you will get is more crime. Talk to any criminal. They all have a compelling rationale for why stealing, raping, and murder were justified. Crime is crime. Crime is crime and perpetrators should be arrested and tried.
BTW the Catholics did not steal California from the Chumash. Spain claimed it from the Chumash (1542) and then Mexico took it from Spain (1821) and then the US took it from Mexico (1848).

The Catholic church cannot be so easily extricated from history by pointing to political authorities.
The Spanish Franciscans, Catholics, raised the cross in 1782 and founded the mission in 1786. Mexico took California from Spain, but the Franciscan, Catholics, continued to operate the mission for another dozen years before it was secularized. Because sexualization resulting in general deterioration, the Mission was returned to the Franciscans, Catholic,
Shortly thereafter, the Mexican Governor confiscated the lands and sold the mission. The Franciscans, Catholics, at Santa Barbara continued to conduct services in the church for twenty years, when it was the returned to the Catholic church once again.
The Franciscans and Catholic church are the only common thread from 1782 to present.

It IS time for everyone to get over what happened hundreds of years ago. Yeah, the land was stolen from the Native Americans. But this is true in EVERY SINGLE CITY in our country (as well as most other countries). Land "ownership" is fluid. Someone always "owned" it before the people living there now. In the case of indigenous peoples, all land around the world was somehow taken, cheated, stolen, or even purchased, from the original "owners." Does that mean we should raze and destroy all modern cities and give them back to the living descendants of those peoples who were wronged, in some cases thousands of years ago? What the Spanish did to the Native people of this area was terrible and wrong, that is not in dispute, but, the past is done. No amount of red paint and illiterate scrawling will change that.

Roger - "give the land back?" Really? If we were to "give the land back," we'd have to destroy and take down every single home and building. Do you really want that? Do you really think that ALL lands that were at some point in history "stolen" from the original inhabitants should be just given back?

The land was stolen hundreds of years ago from the native Americans but it's time for everyone to get over it...Nice their relatives still live here some are homeless give the land back. We do this then ask god to bless us and expect he will while the churches do what they want. I guess I was mean't to live this long to see what assholes we really are it's my choice not to get over it.

It's hard to get over when amends haven't been made and the ancestors of the thieves and murderers still own the beautiful lands they took from your ancestors, and/ or are reaping the benefits of what is rightfully yours, while you and your ancestors live in poverty on the arid reservations they moved you to in the desert, like Warner Springs.

I read it clearly. Centuries of systematic evil perpetrated by the people who ran and operated the Mission occurred from the earliest days of its existence and extend to modern times. If the church and its leaders were true followers of Christ, they would repent their sins and do what ever they could to make amends. Many people, including me, believe the conversion of the grounds from a church, a tourist draw and postcard facade to a memorial would be a great step towards that end. The fact that we ignore the truth and pretend that the Mission is some happy, beautiful place where the natives happily converted and lived is more telling of our own lack of honesty as a city and a community than anything. To this day adults play dress up and pretend that these things never happened as they celebrate ideals that are based on false premises and lies.

Roger - you're not understanding what I'm saying. I'm saying that ALL land once belonged to someone else and was taken under bad circumstances. That's how civilizations work. Someone lived in a valley, then a group of others decided they want that valley, so they kill them all and take it. That happens over and over and over again up until now, where we have more permanent cities and towns, etc. So yeah, it's time to get over the injustices that happened to the original owners of land who haven't been alive for hundreds of years. I am NOT saying anyone should get over slavery or rape or anything like that. Slavery's repercussions still exist today. Rape victims should NEVER "get over it." But people who's distant ancestors had their land taken hundreds of years ago need to come to grips with it. Does that make sense?

I guess according to you it's time for African Americans along with Native Americans to get over it along with the Japanese and the children of Mexico I guess it's time they "Just got over it." Oh but wait a second two of those things happened in the last 100 years one is going on now Shocking...

SANTABARBARAOBSERVER - You misread my post COMPLETELY. I'm not talking about molestation by priests, I'm talking about the tired old complaint about how we stole the land from the Chumash and therefore should be ashamed and should bulldoze the Mission. Did you seriously think my comment about how land was taken from indigenous people around the world had ANYTHING to do with pedophile priests? Wow.

You say get over it, I dare you to say that to the hundreds of molestation victims who are still very much alive and dealing with the horrors of what the priests did to them on those grounds, for decades. The Church, its leaders and its parishioners ARE culpable. The horrors committed by the evil men who called themselves "father" should absolutely be known to every person who walks those grounds. Healing comes only after a full and clear understanding of the truth and the events are made available to all to see and understand. No amount of whitewashing or excuses will ever change the fact that evil men did evil things to good people and children in both the recent and the distant past.

Maybe the Catholics ought to give the Mission and all properties to the Chumash after all their Labor built it...Don't tell me that two wrongs don't make a right bull manure I cannot find out who made that saying up by GOOGLE but it did say it's a proverb so maybe it came from the very people who make excuses to violate others..One wrong isn't supposed to make a right but this so called proverb says two wrongs pretty soon it's going to be a Thousand wrongs don't make a right...Where did crime began in the history of this world? Who was the first person to break the law? Was it because someone wanted something they could not afford? Or was it a Payback? The Bible tells us Cain and Abel brother killing brother, or Eve taking the apple from a tree but it's hard to believe a book that justifies crime toward others. I heard not so long ago that Pope Francis said There was no Hell it did not exist, but I saw something the other day he blamed the Devil for which is it? Don't tell me I can see for myself.

Its sad that this fact gets downvoted, but its no surprise. People simply do not want to accept the truth of the atrocities committed by their "saints" nor are they capable of self reflection and introspection that would bring decades of the most vile, most evil behavior man can produce coming from within the walls and the ground of the so-called "house of god"... If they were, they'd raze the buildings and build a monument to the thousands of souls destroyed by the evil men who hid their evil behind the cloth. Whether the conquistadors, missionaries or the evil horrors of molestation and rape committed and supported by the Catholic church's own men of power over the last century, there is no denying the horrors that took place on those grounds nor the systematic denial that still exists to this day. IMHO the entire Mission and its surrounding buildings should be razed and a park/garden erected to honor the victims and teach people of the horrors of man's religious follies. Desecration is not the answer, shining the bright light of truth on the darkness of history is the righteous path...

Two wrongs don't make a right. Yes, the Spaniards took the land; yes, children were molested by priests. But that still doesn't justify vandalizing any building. If you're unhappy about something in our society, find a pro-social way to combat it. Some suggestions, just for starters: volunteer for or donate to non-profits; exercise your right to vote.

Two wrongs don't make a right...Unless of course someone vandalises the Old Mission of course the victims MUST "Just get over" the two wrongs..I doubt very much if the two wrongs occurred to those saying "Two wrongs don't make a right." here they would be as forgiving...

This is sad. Such a lovely old building which has brought much joy over the years to visitors, church-goers, wedding parties, photographers, festival goers, etc. Yes, the Catholic Church brought untold misery and death to many native peoples. There is no excusing the criminal acts committed in the name of "progress." What's done cannot be undone. For someone to come along centuries after the fact and deface this magnificent edifice is ignorant and wrong. Shame on the idiots who did this. I hope someone witnessed this desecration and comes forward to help identify the perpetrators.